You know you want to come to Tucson–and a true story

I’ll be there this Saturday, March 9, and would love to see you. Really. I’m not just saying that because I want something from you. I’m not like those other love-em-and-leave-em authors that have done you wrong so many times. No, I care.

Now don’t you want to make the trip out Tucson to see me? Forget the fact that it might be lousy weather. A little rain never stood in the way of true devotion.

Too much?

I’ve been reading romances today, so it’s hard to be objective.

Anyway, I’m in currently breezy Tucson for the book festival. Close to a jillion authors will descend on the U of A campus Saturday. It will be awesome and literary and totally worth driving all night to get here.

2:30 – 3:15 –Teen and Author Meeting Place South of the College of Education on the Main Mall.
I’ll be doing an informal reading and Q&A. These are generally lonely and sparsely attended events where authors ponder their popularity and careers in general.

True story: The last time I was at the Tucson Book Festival doing a reading, I was pleasantly surprised that I actually had quite a few people in the audience. A group of women had come with their daughters. They were attentive and laughed in all the right places. They asked thoughtful questions. Then as I wrapped things up, I asked if anyone had any more questions.

“Yes,” one of the mothers replied. “When does Louis Sachar get here?”

Turns out they had come to see him and had gotten the time wrong.

Yeah, so if you’re anywhere in the area, please come by.

4:00 – 5:00Panel Discussion in Room 353: Worlds of Fantasy: Dragons, Monsters and False Princes with Jennifer Nielsen, Bruce Coville, C.J. Hill AKA Janette Rallison

This will be well attended because it’s bound to be really interesting. I will pretend the entire audience has come to see me.

5:00 – 5:30Autographing right outside the south entrance of the COE and to the east.

This is when my illusions that the whole audience came to see me will be brutally shattered. Again, if you can come by, buy a book and have me sign it. It doesn’t even necessarily have to by my book. I’ll happily sign Bruce and Jennifer’s books.